Steering device for a vehicle, especially for a motor vehicle, having an airbag module

• US 6,530,596 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Sinnhuber, Ruprecht
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/808,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/740
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2032 the inflator or inflatable member not being rotatable with the steering wheel; Arrangements using the steering column or steering wheel rim for storing, supplying or evacuating the inflation gas or for storing the inflatable member
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2155 with complex motion of the cover; Retraction under the lining during opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers

Abstract

A steering device is configured for a vehicle, which includes a steering column, a steering-wheel hub and a steering wheel, the steering-wheel hub including an openable cover, behind which an airbag module containing a gas generator and an airbag is disposed. In the activated state of the airbag module, the cover unblocking an airbag outlet, through which the airbag can be inflated in front of the steering wheel. The cover is coupled to at least one pulling device, which can be operated by a pyrotechnic actuator in the form of a cylinder-piston unit, the gas generator forming the piston, which is supported so as to be moveable from a neutral position into a working position, in a cylinder region of the steering-wheel hub and/or of the steering column, which acts as a cylinder. The at least one pulling device is indirectly and/or directly connected to the gas generator so that, in response to the gas generator being displaced in the cylinder region, a tensile force can be applied to the at least one pulling device, so that the pulling device transfers the cover from its covering position into its open position, in order to open the airbag outlet.

Claims

1. A steering device for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag module, the airbag module including a gas generator and an airbag;

a steering wheel;

a steering column, the steering column including an extreme steering-wheel hub, the steering wheel being mounted on the extreme steering-wheel hub, the extreme steering wheel hub having a cup-shaped design and including an outlet wall having an openable cover, the gas generator and the airbag being disposed behind the openable cover, the openable cover unblocking an airbag outlet through which the airbag is inflatable in front of the steering wheel when the airbag module is in an activated state;

a pyrotechnic actuator, the pyrotechnic actuator including a cylinder-piston unit, the gas generator defining the piston thereof, at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column defining the cylinder thereof, the gas generator being supported in a cylinder region of the at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column so as to be movable from a neutral position into a working position; and

at least one pulling device coupled to the cover, the at least one pulling device being actuatable by the pyrotechnic actuator;

wherein the at least one pulling device is connected to the gas generator unit at least one of indirectly and directly so that, in response to the gas generator being shifted in the cylinder region, a tensile force is applied to the at least one pulling device so that the at least one pulling device transfers the cover from a covering position to an open position to unblock the airbag outlet.

2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.

3. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pulling device includes at least a portion of the airbag, the airbag being fastened by at least one airbag subsection to the cover so that, in response to the gas generator being shifted in the cylinder region, the tensile force is applied to the at least one airbag subsection, the tensile force transferring the cover to the open position, the airbag subsequently exiting the airbag outlet and being inflatable.

4. The steering device according to claim 3, wherein the gas generator is shifted in the cylinder region in a direction away from the cover.

5. The steering device according to claim 3, wherein the tensile force transfers the cover into the open position into a region disposed behind the outlet wall.

6. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the pulling device includes a cable line, which is guided over at least one stationary deflection point around the airbag module to the cover;

and wherein in response to the gas generator being shifted in the cylinder region, the tensile force is applied to the cable line so that the tensile force transfers the cover into the open position, the airbag subsequently exiting the airbag outlet and being inflatable.

7. The steering device according to claim 6, wherein the gas generator is shifted in the cylinder region in a direction away from the cover.

13. The steering device according to claim 6, wherein in the neutral the airbag is provided in a separate airbag cup, the separate airbag cup being secured in position in a region of at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column and spaced apart therefrom so that the cable line is guided in a region between the airbag cup and a wall of the at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column.

14. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the gas generator defines a piston supported in a prechamber housing defining a cylinder region and is at least one of connected to and formed integrally with at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column, the gas generator being movable in a direction of the cover so that after activation, the gas generator injects gas through at least one exhaust port into the prechamber housing, the prechamber housing being disposed opposite to the cover, the gas generator generating a displacement pressure to shift the gas generator into the working position.

15. The steering.device according to claim 14, wherein the prechamber housing is gas-tight.

16. The steering device according to claim 14, further comprising a pulling-direction deflector, the at least one pulling device being connected to the gas generator via the pulling-direction deflector so that the gas generator is movable in a direction of the cover and allows the cover to move substantially in an opposite direction behind the outlet wall.

17. The steering device according to claim 14, further comprising a gas connection, wherein in response to the gas generator being activated, the airbag is inflatable through the gas connection when the gas generator has been shifted to the working position.

18. The steering device according to claim 14, wherein the prechamber housing includes at least one overflow opening in a sliding path of the gas generator, a gas connection to the airbag being defined after the overflow opening is overrun by the gas generator.

19. The steering device according to claim 18, wherein the at least one overflow opening is disposed in a region of the working position of the gas generator.

20. The steering device according to claim 14, wherein the gas generator includes at least one radial blow-off outlet.

21. The steering device according to claim 14, further comprising at least one sealing element, at least one of the gas generator and the airbag module being displaceably guidable in the prechamber housing in a gas-tight manner along a sliding path in accordance with the at least one sealing element.

22. The steering device according to claim 14, wherein the pulling device includes at least one cable line, the at least one cable line extending from the prechamber housing in a gas-tight manner in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the gas generator, the at least one cable being guided over at least two stationary deflection points around the prechamber housing to the cover located in front of the prechamber housing and at a distance therefrom, the at least one cable line being connected to the cover, the cable line being deflectable from an original position by the movement of the gas generator to generate an opening force to open the cover.

23. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the gas generator includes a two-stage generator, the pyrotechnic actuator being operable in a first generator stage after being activated by a crash sensor and the airbag being inflatable in a second generator stage after a time delay.

24. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes at least one openable airbag flap, the at least one openable airbag flap being swivelable at least one of inwardly and outwardly.

25. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes an outer skin, which is openable at a notch.

26. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is aligned in a direction of the cover and the airbag module is movable.

27. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein a subsection of the region of the at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column includes a deformation region.

28. The steering device according to claim 27, wherein the deformation region includes at least one of an undulated profile and an inverted tube.

8. A steering device for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag module, the airbag module including a gas generator and an airbag;

a steering wheel;

a steering column, the steering column including an extreme steering-wheel hub, the steering wheel being mounted on the extreme steering-wheel hub, the extreme steering wheel hub having a cup-shaped design and including an outlet wall having an openable cover, the gas generator and the airbag being disposed behind the openable cover, the openable cover unblocking an airbag outlet through which the airbag is inflatable in front of the steering wheel when the airbag module is in an activated state;

a pyrotechnic actuator, the pyrotechnic actuator including a cylinder-piston unit, the gas generator defining the piston thereof, at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column defining the cylinder thereof, the gas generator being supported in a cylinder region of the at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column so as to be movable from a neutral position into a working position; and

at least one pulling device coupled to the cover, the at least one pulling device being actuatable by the pyrotechnic actuator;

wherein the at least one pulling device is connected to the gas generator unit at least one of indirectly and directly so that, in response to the gas generator being shifted in the cylinder region, a tensile force is applied to the at feast one pulling device so that the at least one pulling device transfers the cover from a covering position to an open position to unblock the airbag outlet;

wherein the pulling device includes a cable line, which is guided over at least one stationary deflection point around the airbag module to the cover;

wherein in response to the gas generator being shifted in the cylinder region, the tensile force is applied to the cable line so that the tensile force transfers the cover into the open position, the airbag subsequently exiting the airbag outlet and being inflatable; and

wherein the gas generator includes a lower end, the lower end of the gas generator including two sides, a first stationary deflection point being provided on each of the two sides of the lower end of the gas generator and being spaced apart from the lower end of the gas generator, a subsection of the cable line being guided around the first, stationary deflection points so that the subsection extends substantially horizontally and is disposed directly adjacent to the lower end of the gas generator, the first stationary deflection points being spaced apart from each other so that the gas generator is movable therebetween and therethrough while pulling the cable line.

9. The steering device according to claim 8, wherein a second stationary deflection point corresponds to each of the first stationary deflection points, each second stationary deflection point being arranged further to the outside relative to the lower end of the gas generator and lower than the corresponding first stationary deflection point, the cable line extending from the first stationary deflection points being guided around the corresponding second stationary deflection points.

10. The steering device according to claim 9, wherein the second stationary deflection points are arranged at a same level relative to the lower end of the gas generator.

11. The steering device according to claim 9, wherein the cable line is guided around additional stationary deflection points in a direction of the cover.

12. A steering device for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag module, the airbag module including a gas generator and an airbag;

a steering wheel;

a steering column, the steering column including an extreme steering-wheel hub, the steering wheel being mounted on the extreme steering-wheel hub, the extreme steering wheel hub having a cup-shaped design and including an outlet wall having an openable cover, the gas generator and the airbag being disposed behind the openable cover, the openable cover unblocking an airbag outlet through which the airbag is inflatable in front of the steering wheel when the airbag module is in an activated state;

a pyrotechnic actuator, the pyrotechnic actuator including a cylinder-piston unit, the gas generator defining the piston thereof, at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column defining the cylinder thereof, the gas generator being supported in a cylinder region of the at least one of the steering-wheel hub and the steering column so as to be movable from a neutral position into a working position; and

at least one pulling device coupled to the cover, the at least one pulling device being actuatable by the pyrotechnic actuator;

wherein the at least one pulling device is connected to the gas generator unit at least one of indirectly and directly so that, in response to the gas generator being shifted in the cylinder region, a tensile force is applied to the at least one pulling device so that the at least one pulling device transfers the cover from a covering position to an open position to unblock the airbag outlet;

wherein the pulling device includes a cable line, which is guided over at least one stationary deflection point around the airbag module to the cover;

wherein in response to the gas generator being shifted in the cylinder region, the tensile force is applied to the cable line so that the tensile force transfers the cover into the open position, the airbag subsequently exiting the airbag outlet and being inflatable; and

wherein each tree end of the cable line is guided towards a respective side of the airbag module and upwardly in a direction of the cover, each free end of the cable line being secured in position in an extreme edge area of the cover; and

wherein, in response to the gas generator being shifted in a direction away from the cover between and through the first stationary deflection points while pulling the cable line, the tensile force acts on the free ends of the cable line so that the free ends swivel outwardly with a cover subsection about a stationary hinged bearing in a direction away from the outlet wall to open the airbag outlet.